Inbred corn line G1202

ABSTRACT

Broadly this invention provides an invention which is inbred corn line G1202. The methods for producing a corn plant by crossing the inbred line G1202 are also encompassed by the invention. Additionally, the invention relates to the various parts of inbred G1202 including culturable cells. This invention relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line G1202 with at least one other corn line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of corn breeding, specifically relatingto an inbred corn line designated G1202. This invention also is in thefield of hybrid maize production employing the present inbred.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The original maize plant was indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. Theplants were weedlike and only through the efforts of early breeders werecultivated crop species developed. The crop cultivated by earlybreeders, like the crop today, could be wind pollinated. The physicaltraits of maize are such that wind pollination results inself-pollination or cross-pollination between plants. Each plant has aseparate male and female flower that contributes to pollination, thetassel and ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs when windtransfers pollen from tassel to the silks on the corn ears. This type ofpollination has contributed to the wide variation of maize varietiespresent in the Western Hemisphere.

The development of a planned breeding program for maize only occurred inthe last century. A large part of the development of the maize productinto a profitable agricultural crop was due to the work done by landgrant colleges. Originally, maize was an open pollinated variety havingheterogeneous genotypes. The maize farmer selected uniform ears from theyield of these genotypes and preserved them for planting the nextseason. The result was a field of maize plants that were segregating fora variety of traits. This type of maize selection led to, at most,incremental increases in seed yield.

Large increases in seed yield were due to the work done by land grantcolleges that resulted in the development of numerous hybrid cornvarieties in planned breeding programs. Hybrids were developed byselecting corn lines and selfing these lines for several generations todevelop homozygous pure inbred lines. One selected inbred line wascrossed with another selected inbred line to produce hybrid progeny(F1). The resulting hybrids, due to heterosis, are robust and vigorousplants. Inbreds on the other hand are mostly homozygous. Thishomozygosity renders the inbred lines less vigorous. Inbred seed can bedifficult to produce since the inbreeding process in corn linesdecreases the vigor. However, when two inbred lines are crossed, thehybrid plant evidences greatly increased vigor and seed yield comparedto open pollinated, segregating maize plants. An important consequenceof the homozygosity and the homogenity of the inbred maize lines is thatall hybrid seed produced from any cross of two such elite lines will bethe same hybrid seed and make the same hybrid plant. Thus the use ofinbreds makes hybrid seed which can be reproduced readily. The hybridplant in contrast does not produce hybrid seed that is readilyreproducible. The seed on a hybrid plant is segregating for traits.

The ultimate objective of the commercial maize seed companies is toproduce high yielding, agronomically sound plants that perform well incertain regions or areas of the Corn Belt. To produce these types ofhybrids, the companies must develop inbreds, which carry needed traitsinto the hybrid combination. Hybrids are not often uniformly adapted forthe entire Corn Belt, but most often are specifically adapted forregions of the Corn Belt. Northern regions of the Corn Belt requireshorter season hybrids than do southern regions of the Corn Belt.Hybrids that grow well in Colorado and Nebraska soils may not flourishin richer Illinois and Iowa soil. Thus, a variety of major agronomictraits are important in hybrid combination for the various Corn Beltregions, and have an impact on hybrid performance.

Inbred line development and hybrid testing have been emphasized in thepast half-century in commercial maize production as a means to increasehybrid performance. Inbred development is usually done by pedigreeselection. Pedigree selection can be selection in an F₂ populationproduced from a planned cross of two genotypes (often elite inbredlines), or selection of progeny of synthetic varieties, open pollinated,composite, or backcrossed populations. This type of selection iseffective for highly inheritable traits, but other traits, for example,yield requires replicated test crosses at a variety of stages foraccurate selection.

Maize breeders select for a variety of traits in inbreds that impacthybrid performance along with selecting for acceptable parental traits.Such traits include: yield potential in hybrid combination; dry down;maturity; grain moisture at harvest; greensnap; resistance to rootlodging; resistance to stalk lodging; grain quality; disease and insectresistance; ear and plant height. Additionally, Hybrid performance willdiffer in different soil types such as low levels of organic matter,clay, sand, black, high pH, low pH; or in different environments such aswet environments, drought environments, and no tillage conditions. Thesetraits appear to be governed by a complex genetic system that makesselection and breeding of an inbred line extremely difficult. Even if aninbred in hybrid combination has excellent yield (a desiredcharacteristic), it may not be useful because it fails to haveacceptable parental traits such as seed yield, seed size, pollenproduction, good silks, plant height, etc.

To illustrate the difficulty of breeding and developing inbred lines,the following example is given. Two inbreds compared for similarity of29 traits differed significantly for 18 traits between the two lines. If18 simply inherited single gene traits were polymorphic with genefrequencies of 0.5 in the parental lines, and assuming independentsegregation (as would essentially be the case if each trait resided on adifferent chromosome arm), then the specific combination of these traitsas embodied in an inbred would only be expected to become fixed at arate of one in 262,144 possible homozygous genetic combinations.Selection of the specific inbred combination is also influenced by thespecific selection environment on many of these 18 traits which makesthe probability of obtaining this one inbred even more remote. Inaddition, most traits in the corn genome are regrettably not singledominant genes but are multi-genetic with additive gene action notdominant gene action. Thus, the general procedure of producing anon-segregating F₁ generation and self-pollinating to produce a F₂generation that segregates for traits and selecting progeny with thevisual traits desired does not easily lead to a useful inbred. Greatcare and breeder expertise must be used in selection of breedingmaterial to continue to increase yield and the agronomics of inbreds andresultant commercial hybrids.

Certain regions of the Corn Belt have specific difficulties that otherregions may not have. Thus the hybrids developed from the inbreds haveto have traits that overcome or at least minimize these regional growingproblems. Examples of these problems include in the eastern corn beltGray Leaf Spot, in the north cool temperatures during seedlingemergence, in the Nebraska region CLN (corn Lethal necrosis and in thewest soil that has excessively high pH levels. The industry oftentargets inbreds that address these issues specifically forming nicheproducts. However, the aim of most large seed producers is to provide anumber of traits to each inbred so that the corresponding hybrid canuseful in broader regions of the Corn Belt. The new biotechnologytechniques such as Microsatellites, RFLPs, RAPDs and the like haveprovided breeders with additional tools to accomplish these goals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inbred corn line G1202.Specifically, this invention relates to plants and seeds of this line.Additionally, this relates to a method of producing from this inbred,hybrid seed corn and hybrid plants with seeds from such hybrid seed.More particularly, this invention relates to the unique combination oftraits that combine in corn line G1202.

Generally then, broadly the present invention includes an inbred cornseed designated G1202. This seed produces a corn plant.

The invention also includes the tissue culture of regenerable cells ofG1202 wherein the cells of the tissue culture regenerates plants capableof expressing the genotype of G1202. The tissue culture is selected fromthe group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, guardcells, ovule, seeds, anthers, silk, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husksand stalks, cells and protoplasts thereof. The corn plant regeneratedfrom G1202 or any part thereof is included in the present invention. Thepresent invention includes regenerated corn plants that are capable ofexpressing G1202's genotype, phenotype or mutants or variants thereof.

The invention extends to hybrid seed produced by planting, inpollinating proximity which includes using preserved maize pollen asexplained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,838 to Greaves, seeds of corn inbredlines G1202 and another inbred line if preserved pollen is not used;cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; preventing pollenproduction by the plants of one of the inbred lines if two are employed;allowing cross pollination to occur between said inbred lines; andharvesting seeds produced on plants of the selected inbred. The hybridseed produced by hybrid combination of plants of inbred corn seeddesignated G1202 and plants of another inbred line are apart of thepresent invention. This inventions scope covers hybrid plants and theplant parts including the grain and pollen grown from this hybrid seed.

The invention further includes a method of hybrid F1 production. A firstgeneration (F1) hybrid corn plant produced by the process of plantingseeds of corn inbred line G1202; cultivating corn plants resulting fromsaid planting; permitting pollen from another inbred line to crosspollinate inbred line G1202; harvesting seeds produced on plants of theinbred; and growing a harvested seed are part of the method of thisinvention.

Likewise included is a first generation (F1) hybrid corn plant producedby the process of planting seeds of corn inbred line G1202; cultivatingcorn plants resulting from said planting; permitting pollen from inbredline G1202 to cross pollinate another inbred line; harvesting seedsproduced on plants of the inbred; and growing a plant from such aharvested seed.

The inbred corn line G1202 and at least one transgenic gene adapted togive G1202 additional and/or altered phenotypic traits are within thescope of the invention. Such transgenes are usually associated withregulatory elements (promoters, enhancers, terminators and the like).Presently, trangenes provide the invention with traits such as insectresistance, herbicide resistance, disease resistance increased ordeceased starch or sugars or oils, increased or decreased life cycle orother altered trait.

The present invention includes inbred corn line G1202 and at least onetransgenic gene adapted to give G1202 modified starch traits.Furthermore this invention includes the inbred corn line G1202 and atleast one mutant gene adapted to give modified starch, acid or oiltraits. The present invention includes the inbred corn line G1202 and atleast one transgenic gene selected from the group consisting of:bacillus thuringiensis, the bar or pat gene encoding Phosphinothricinacetyl Transferase, Gdha gene, EPSP synthase gene, low phytic acidproducing gene, and zein. The inbred corn line G1202 and at least onetransgenic gene useful as a selectable marker or a screenable marker arecovered by the present invention.

A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of hybrid plants produced withuse of G1202 genetic material is covered by this invention. A tissueculture of the regenerable cells of the corn plant produced by themethod described above are also included.

Definitions

In the description and examples, which follow, a number of terms areused. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecifications and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided.

Bl Moist

The moisture percentage of the grain at black layer, i.e., when 50% ofthe plants per plot have reached physiological maturity.

Cold Germ

Cold Germ is a measurement of seed germination under cold soilconditions. Data is reported as percent of seed germinating.

ECB

European corn borer is a maize eating insect. ECBI is the first broodgeneration of European corn borers. ECBII is the second generation ofEuropean corn borers. ECB1 is a rating of leaf damage. The ECBII (ECB2)rating is based upon tunneling. For all Entomology ratings, the highernumber is best (1=little or no resistance, 9=highly resistant). Thescale is slightly different for Ear Rating, which is taken on a 1-4basis. This is a rating of corn borer feeding on the ear. A 1 representsfeeding over the entire ear, while a 4 represents no observable feedingon the ear.

Emerge (EMG)

The number of emerged plants per plot (planted at the same seedlingrate) collected when plants have two fully developed leaves.

GI

This is a selection index that provides a single quantitative measure ofthe worth of a hybrid based on four traits. FI is a very similar indexwhich weights yield less than GI. In GI yield is the primary traitcontributing to index values. The GI value is calculated by combiningstalk lodging, root lodging, yield and dropped ears according to theattached mathematical formula:

GI=100+0.5(YLD)−0.9(%STALK LODGE)−0.9(%ROOT LODGE)−2.7(%DROPPED EAR)

GLS

Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora Zeae) disease rating. This is rated on a 1-9scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being veryresistant.*

GW

Gross' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). This is rated on a 1-9 scalewith a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.*

HEATP10

The number of Growing Degree Units (GDU's) or heat units required for aninbred line or hybrid to have approximately 10 percent of the plantsshedding pollen. This trait is measured from the time of planting.Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method where the GDU'sfor a 24 hour period are:${GDU} = {\frac{( {{{Max}\quad {Temp}\quad ( {{^\circ}\quad {F.}} )} + {{Min}\quad {Temp}\quad ( {{^\circ}\quad {F.}} )}} )}{2} - 50}$

The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimumtemperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certainnumber of GDU's to reach various stages of plant development.

HEATBL

The number of GDU's after planting when approximately 50 percent of theinbred or hybrid plants in a plot have grain that has reachedphysiological maturity (black layer).

Heatpeek

The number of GDU's after planting of an inbred when approximately 50percent of the plants show visible tassel extension.

HEATP50 or HTP50

The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to haveapproximately 50 percent of the plants shedding pollen. Growing DegreeUnits are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10definition.

HEATP90

The number of GDU's accumulated from planting when the last 100 percentof plants in an inbred or hybrid are still shedding enough viable pollenfor pollination to occur. Growing Degree Units are calculated by theBarger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition.

HEATS10

The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to haveapproximately 10 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method asshown in the HEATP10 definition.

HEATS50 or HTS50

The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to haveapproximately 50 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method asshown in the HEATP10 definition.

HEATS90

The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to haveapproximately 90 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method asshown in the HEATP10 definition.

MDMV_(A)

Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus strain A. The corn is rated on a 1-9 scale witha “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.*

MDMV_(B)

Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus strain B. This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a“1” being very susceptible and a “9” being very resistant.*

Moisture

The average percentage grain moisture of an inbred or hybrid at harvesttime.

NLB

Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) disease rating. This israted on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” beingvery resistant.*

PCT Tiller or Tiller Rating

The total number of tillers per plot divided by the total number ofplants per plot.

Plant

This term includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissuecultures from which corn plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plantclumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants,such as embryos, pollen, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks,stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk and the like., and this termalso includes any transgenic DNA or (RNA) or portion thereof that havebeen introduced into the plant by whatever method.

Plant Height (PLTHT) (PHT)

The distance in centimeters from ground level to the base of the tasselpeduncle.

Plant Integrity (PLTINT) or (INT)

The level of plant integrity on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencing thetrait most strongly: 1-2.9 ratings are low plant integrity, 3-5.9ratings are intermediate plant integrity, and 6-9 ratings are stronglyevidencing plant integrity.

Population (POP)

The plant population.

RM

Predicted relative maturity based on the moisture percentage of thegrain at harvest. This rating is based on known set of checks andutilizes standard linear regression analyses and is referred to as theMinnesota Relative Maturity Rating System.

Shed

The volume of pollen shed by the male flower rated on a 1-5 scale wherea “1” is a very light pollen shedder, a “2.5” is a moderate shedder, anda “5” is a very heavy shedder.

SLB

Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris mavdis) disease rating. This is rated ona 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being veryresistant.*

Staygreen (SGN)

The level of staygreen of the plant on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencingthe trait most strongly: 1-2.9 ratings are low staygreen, 3-5.9 ratingsare intermediate staygreen, and 6-9 ratings are strongly evidencingstaygreen.

TWT

The measure of the weight of grain in pounds for a one bushel volumeadjusted for percent grain moisture.

Vigor (VIG)

Visual rating of 1 to 9 made 2-3 weeks post-emergence where a “1”indicates very poor early plant development, and a “9” indicatessuperior plant development.

Warm Germ

A measurement of seed germination under ideal (warm, moist) conditions.Data is reported as percent of seeds germinating.

Yield (YLD)

Actual yield of grain at harvest adjusted to 15.5% moisture.Measurements are reported in bushels per acre.

% Dropped Ears (DE)

The number of plants per plot, which dropped their primary ear, dividedby the total number of plants per plot.

% Root Lodge (RL)

Percentage of plants per plot leaning more that 30 degrees from verticaldivided by total plants per plot.

% Stalk Lodge (SL)

Percentage of plants per plot with the stalk broken below the primaryear node divided by the total plants per plot.

Resistant—on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencing the trait most strongly:1-2.9 ratings are susceptible, 3-5.9 ratings are intermediate, and 6-9ratings are resistant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

G1202 can be used as a male or female line. This inbred has an extendedpollen shed across 235 heat units. The inbred has good levels ofmoisture at harvest and slightly low yields. In hybrid combination thisline yields 115 day hybrids. The inbred carries tolerance to Gray LeafSpot and Gross' Wilt.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for all the traits as described in the VarietyDescription Information (Table 1) that follows.

The inbred has been self-pollinated for a sufficient number ofgenerations to give inbred uniformity. During plant selection in eachgeneration, the uniformity of plant type was selected to ensurehomozygosity and phenotypic stability. The line has been increased inisolated farmland environments with data on uniformity and agronomictraits being observed to assure uniformity and stability. No varianttraits have been observed or are expected in G1202.

The best method of producing the invention, G1202 which is substantiallyhomozygous, is by planting the seed of G1202 which is substantiallyhomozygous and self-pollinating or sib pollinating the resultant plantin an isolated environment, and harvesting the resultant seed.

TABLE I G1202 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION #1 Type: Dent #2 RegionBest Adapted: Broadly adapted - Central, Eastern regions of the CornBelt. This inbred in hybrid combination has RM of 113-115. #3 PlantTraits Plant Height 73 in. Ear Height 32 in. Tillers (Rating) 5 LeafColor MEDIUM GREEN Brace Root Color GREEN Silk Color RED/PINK Shoots atFlowering BALD #4 Tassel Traits Glume Color GREEN Glume Ring ColorOTHER/ABSENT Anther Color YELLOW #5 Ear and Kernel Traits Cob Color REDKernel Crown Color YELLOW #6 Disease Resistance In Inbred Gray Leaf Spot= 5.7 Gross' Wilt = 6.3 #7 Insect Resistance In Inbred ECB1 = 5.5 ECB2 =4.27620 Ear rate = 2.3750 The comparable inbred to G1202 is ZS01101, aninbred having a number of similarities. ZS01101 is an inbred which hasbeen or presently in commercial hybrids that are in similar region ofadaptation as most of the hybrids formed with G1202.

The Munsell code is a reference book of color, which is known and usedin the industry and by persons with ordinary skill in the art of plantbreeding.

The purity and homozygosity of inbred G1202 is constantly being trackedusing isozyme genotypes as shown in Table 2.

Isozyme Genotypes for G1202

Isozyme data were generated for inbred corn line G1202 according toprocedures known and published in the art. The data in Table 2 gives theelectrophoresis data on G1202 as compared to its two parents.

TABLE 2 ELECTROPHORESIS RESULTS FOR G1202 INBRED ACP1 ACP4 ADH MDH1 MDH2PGD1 PGD2 PHI PGM IDH G1202 11 0 22 22 22 11 11 22 22 11

Inbred and Hybrid Performance of G1202

The traits and characteristics of inbred corn line G1202 are listed tocompare with other inbreds and/or in hybrid combinations. The G1202 datashows the characteristics and traits of importance, giving a snapshot ofG1202 in these specific environments.

Table 3A shows a comparison between G1202 and a comparable inbredZS01101. G1202 has better vigor than does inbred ZS01101. The twoinbreds show significant differences in ear height, plant height, andacross all Heat measurements for pollination and silking. G1202 hassignificantly lower yield at harvest than does ZS01101 but has slightlylower moisture that is not significantly different. G1202 flowerssignificantly later than ZS0110lacross all pollination and silking data.G1202 reaches heat peek with significantly more heat units than doesZS01101. The present invention is slightly more full season than isZS01101.

TABLE 3A PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA EAR PLANT HEAT YEAR INBRED YIELDMOISTURE HEIGHT HEIGHT EMERGE PEEK HEATP10 HEATP50 OVERALL G1202 60.711.4 82.2 192.7 61.5 1425.2 1467.5 1513.7 ZS01101 81.7 11.9 71.3 171.487.7 1355.5 1415.4 1452.1 # EXPTS 15 15 11 11 15 14 14 14 DIFF 20.9 0.510.9 21.3 26.2 69.7 52.1 61.6 PROB 0.032** 0.319 0.026** 0.001***0.000*** 0.000*** 0.001*** 0.001*** % LRG MED % LRG MED % LRG YEARINBRED HEATP90 HEATS10 HEATS50 HEATS90 FLAT RND PLATELESS OVERALL G12021702.3 1509.4 1561.6 1605.4 18.1 48.2 8.2 ZS01101 1609 1422 1455.5 150110.7 12.5 0.4 # EXPTS 11 14 14 11 14 14 14 DIFF 93.4 87.5 106 104.4 7.535.8 7.8 PROB 0.001*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.002*** 0.003*** 0.000***0.000*** % SML MED % SML MED % SML YEAR INBRED FLAT RND PLATELESS % CULLSHED COLD GERM WARM GERM OVERALL G1202 2.8 19.1 2.4 1 3.7 81.2 91.8ZS01101 22.2 26.9 21.2 6 4.1 92.9 97.4 # EXPTS 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 DIFF19.5 7.9 18.7 4.9 0.4 11.7 5.6 PROB 0.000*** 0.017** 0.000*** 0.009***0.137 0.002*** 0.000*** *.05 < PROB <= .10 **.01 < PROB <= .05 ***.00 <PROD <= .01

TABLE 3B PAIRED HYBRID COMPARISON DATA % ROOT % STALK % DROPPED TESTYEAR HYBRID LODGE LODGE EARS WEIGHT MOISTURE YIELD GI Y_M FI OVERALLCI/G1202 0.6 3.1 0 55.4 19.2 185.7 189.4 10.1 145.4 8342GLS/IT 0.4 2.5 055.1 19.2 172 183.3 9.3 139.2 # EXPTS 294 294 293 290 296 296 293 296293 DIFF 0.2 0.6 0 0.3 0 13.7 6 0.8 6.1 PROB 0.253 0.019** 0.1760.001*** 0.88 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** *.05 < PROB <= .10**.01 < PROB <= .05 ***.00 < PROB <= .01

Table 3B shows the Inbred G1202 in hybrid combination with a commoninbred and another hybrid combination that includes the same commoninbred and another inbred. The comparison hybrid carries the IT(imazethapyr tolerance trait) and an increased level of grey leaftolerance. When in these hybrid combinations the present inbred carriesa slightly significant heavier test weight and a distinctivelysignificant increase in yield into the hybrid. The Y/M for the hybridcombination containing the present invention is significantly higherthan is the comparison hybrid's Y/M rating.

Table 4 shows the GCA (general combining ability) estimates of G1202compared with the GCA estimates of the other inbreds. The estimates showthe general combining ability is weighted by the number ofexperiment/location combinations in which the specific hybridcombination occurs. The interpretation of the data for all traits isthat a positive comparison is a practical advantage. A negativecomparison is a practical disadvantage. The general combining ability ofan inbred is clearly evidenced by the results of the general combiningability estimates. This data compares the inbred parent in a number ofhybrid combinations to a group of “checks”. The check data is from othercompanies' hybrids, particularly the leader in the industry and GarstSeed's commercial products and pre-commercial hybrids, which were grownin the same sets and locations.

TABLE 4 N FI Y/M GI YLD MST % SL % RL % DE TWT POP RM G1202 XT = 22 5.00.6 4.8 8.2 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.0 0.2 −128 113 ZS01101 XT = 9 −0.3 −0.0 −0.7−1.7 0.2 −0.2 0.6 0.0 −0.1 129 112 FI = 100 + 0.5 (Yld) − 2.3 (MST) −0.9 (% SL) − 0.9 (% RL) − 2.7 (% DE) POP = plants per acre RM = TheMinnesota Relative Maturity XT = GCA Estimate weighted by parent 2, butusing only those parent 2 with two years of data

Table 4 shows G1202 in XT crossed to different inbreds to form hybridcombinations.

G1202 in hybrid combination shows an excellent advantage for yield (YLD)and an advantage for yield/moisture (Y/M) compared to the commercialchecks and the company's hybrids made with this inbred. When compared toZS01101 G1202 has a slightly more positive rating for most of theagronomic traits except for resistance to root lodging. In a number ofcategories the present invention surpasses the ZS01101 line.

TABLE 5A YIELD RESPONSE Research Plots HYBRID YIELD G1202/Inbred X 75102 129 156 183 210 Environment 75 100 125 150 175 200 Error: 15.2 #Plots 319

TABLE 5B YIELD RESPONSE Research Plots HYBRID YIELD ZS01101/Inbred X 89110 132 154 175 197 Environment 75 100 125 150 175 200 Error: 13.7 #Plots 8173

Table 5A shows the yield response of G1202 in hybrid combination incomparison with the plants in the environment around it at the samelocation. The data for the present inbred is showing consistently betterresults than the data of the comparison hybrid until the highestenvironment level. G1202 in hybrid combination, is an inbred that workswell by providing yields better than the environment in low-medium tohigh yielding environments. The yield is about equal to yields in thelow yielding environments. Its performance shows that this is aconsistent yielding inbred regardless of the environment. Table 5b showsthe data from a different hybrid that was formed with the same commoninbred as in the Table 5A. This comparison hybrid is still yielding wellparticularly in the low and middle environments but it is not carryingthe yield potential into high yielding environments.

TABLE 6 DISEASE RESISTANCE IN BOTH INBREDS G1202 shows the followingdisease resistance in the inbred: Gray Leaf Spot = 5.7 Gross' Wilt = 6.3In contrast ZS01101 shows the following disease resistance: Gray LeafSpot = 6.0 Gross' Wilt = 6.4

Thus the inbred G1202 carries similar levels of resistances to diseaseas does ZS01101. In many hybrid combinations the inbred G1202 carriesthese resistances to disease into the hybrid combination.

The foregoing is set forth by way of example and is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a corn plant bycrossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plantwherein the first or second parent corn plant is an inbred corn plantfrom the line G1202. Further, both first and second parent corn plantscan come from the inbred corn line G1202. A variety of breeding methodscan be selected depending on the mode of reproduction, the trait, andthe condition of the germplasm. Thus, any such methods using the inbredcorn line G1202 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybridproduction, crosses to populations, haploid by such old and knownmethods of using stock material that induces haploids and antherculturing and the like. Additionally, this maize can, within the scopeof the invention, contain: a mutant gene such as but not limited tosugary 1 or shrunken 1 or waxy or AE or imazethapyr tolerant (IT or IR™)mutant gene; or transgenic genes such as but not limited to insectresistant genes such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Cry genes), or herbicideresistant genes such as Pat gene or Bar gene, EPSP, or disease resistantgenes such as the Mosaic virus resistant gene, etc., or trait alteringgenes such as flowering genes, oil modifying genes, senescence genes andthe like.

Various culturing techniques known to those skilled in the art, such ashaploid, (stock six is a method that has been in use for twenty yearsand is well known to those with skill in the art), transformation, and ahost of other conventional and unconventional methods are within thescope of the invention. All plants and plant cells produced using theinbred corn line are within the scope of this invention. The termtransgenic plant refers to plants having genetic sequences, which areintroduced into the genome of a plant by a transformation method and theprogeny thereof. Transformation methods are means for integrating newgenetic coding sequences into the plant's genome by the incorporation ofthese sequences into a plant through man's assistance, but not bybreeding practices.

Though there are a large number of known methods to transform plants,certain types of plants are more amenable to transformation than areothers. Tobacco is a readily transformable plant. The basic steps oftransforming plants including monocots are known in the art. These stepsare concisely outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,956 “Fertile TransgenicZea mays Plants Comprising Heterologous DNA Encoding Bacillusthuringiensis Endotoxin” issued Jan. 16, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No.5,489,520 “Process of Producing Fertile Zea mays Plants and ProgenyComprising a Gene Encoding Phosphinothricin Acetyl Transferase” issuedFeb. 6, 1996.

Plant cells such as maize can be transformed by a number of differenttechniques. Some of these techniques which have been reported on and areknown in the art include maize pollen transformation (See University ofToledo 1993 U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,010); Biolistic gun technology (See U.S.Pat. No. 5,484,956); Whiskers technology (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,765and 5,302,523); Electroporation; PEG on Maize; Agrobacterium (See 1996article on transformation of maize cells in Nature Biotechnology, Volume14, June 1996) along with numerous other methods which may have slightlylower efficiency rates. Some of these methods require specific types ofcells and other methods can be practiced on any number of cell types.

The use of pollen, cotyledons, meristems and ovum as the target issuecan eliminate the need for extensive tissue culture work. Generally,cells derived from meristematic tissue are useful. Zygotic embryos canalso be used. Additionally, the method of transformation of meristematiccells of cereal is also taught in the PCT application WO96/04392. Any ofthe various cell lines, tissues, plants and plant parts can and havebeen transformed by those having knowledge in the art. Methods ofpreparing callus or protoplasts from various plants are well known inthe art and specific methods are detailed in patents and references usedby those skilled in the art. Cultures can be initiated from most of theabove-identified tissue. The only true requirement of the transformingmaterial is that it can form a transformed plant. The transgenic genecan come from various non-plant genes (such as; bacteria, yeast,animals, and viruses) along with being from plants.

The DNA used for transformation of these plants clearly may be circular,linear, and double or single stranded. Usually, the DNA is in the formof a plasmid. The plasmid usually contains regulatory and/or targetingsequences which assists the expression of the gene in the plant. Themethods of forming plasmids for transformation are known in the art.Plasmid components can include such items as: leader sequences, transitpolypeptides, promoters, terminators, genes, introns, marker genes, etc.The structures of the gene orientations can be sense, antisense, partialantisense, or partial sense: multiple gene copies can be used.

The regulatory promoters employed can be constitutive such as CaMv35S(usually for dicots) and polyubiquitin for monocots or tissue specificpromoters such as CAB promoters, etc. The prior art includes but is notlimited to octopine synthase, nopaline synthase, CaMv19S, mannopinesynthase promoters. These regulatory sequences can be combined withintrons, terminators, enhancers, leader sequences and the like in thematerial used for transformation.

The isolated DNA is then transformed into the plant. Many dicots caneasily be transformed with Agrobacterium. Some monocots are moredifficult to transform. As previously noted, there are a number ofuseful transformation processes. The improvements in transformationtechnology are beginning to eliminate the need to regenerate plants fromcells. Since 1986, the transformation of pollen has been published andrecently the transformation of plant meristems has been published. Thetransformation of ovum, pollen, and seedlings meristem greatly reducethe difficulties associated with cell regeneration of different plantsor genotypes which a maize plant can present. Duncan, from at least 1985produced literature on plant regeneration from callus. Both inbred andhybrid callus have resulted in regenerated plants. Somatic embryogenesishas been performed on various maize tissues, which was once consideredunusable for this purpose. The prior art clearly teaches theregeneration of plants from various maize tissues.

The most common method of maize transformation is referred to as gunningor microprojectile bombardment though the other methods can be used. TheBiolistic process has small gold-coated particles coated with DNA shotinto the transformable material. Techniques for gunning DNA into cells,tissue, callus, embryos, and the like are well known in the prior art.

After the transformation of the plant material is complete, the nextstep is identifying the cells or material, which has been transformed.In some cases, a screenable marker is employed such as thebeta-glucuronidase gene of the uidA locus of E. coli. Then, thetransformed cells expressing the colored protein are selected for eitherregeneration or further use. In many cases, a selectable markeridentifies the transformed material. The putatively transformed materialis exposed to a toxic agent at varying concentrations. The cells nottransformed with the selectable marker, which provides resistance tothis toxic agent, die. Cells or tissues containing the resistantselectable marker generally proliferate. It has been noted that althoughselectable markers protect the cells from some of the toxic affects ofthe herbicide or antibiotic, the cells may still be slightly affected bythe toxic agent by having slower growth rates. If the transformedmaterial was cell lines then these lines are regenerated into plants.The cells' lines are treated to induce tissue differentiation. Methodsof regeneration of cellular maize material are well known in the art.

All plants and plant cells produced using inbred corn line G1202 arewithin the scope of this invention. The invention encompasses the inbredcorn line used in crosses with other, different, corn inbreds to produce(F1) corn hybrid seeds and hybrid plants. This invention includes cells,which upon growth and differentiation produce corn plants having thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the inbred lineG1202.

A deposit of at least 2500 seeds of this invention will be maintained byAdvanta USA, Inc., 2369 330th Street, Slater, Iowa 50244. Access to thisdeposit will be available during the pendency of this application to theCommissioner of Patents and Trademarks and persons determined by theCommissioner to be entitled thereto upon request. All restrictions onavailability to the public of such material will be removed uponissuance of a granted patent of this application by depositing at least2500 seeds of this invention at the American Type Culture Collection(ATCC), at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110. The date ofdeposit was May 17, 2004 and the seeds were tested and found to beviable on May 24, 2004. The ATCC accession number is PTA-5972. The ATCCdeposit will be maintained in that depository, which is a publicdepository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request,or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and willbe replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period.

Additional public information on some ZS designations may be availablefrom the PVP Office, a division of the US Government.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degreeof particularity directed to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present inventionis defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior artso that modifications or changes may be made to the preferred embodimentof the present invention without departing from the inventive conceptscontained herein.

We claim:
 1. Inbred corn seed of the line designated G1202, whereinrepresentative seed of said line have been deposited in the ATCC underAccession No.
 5972. 2. A corn plant produced by growing the seed ofclaim
 1. 3. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the cornplant of claim
 2. 4. The tissue culture according to claim 3, whereinthe regenerable cells are from a tissue selected from the groupconsisting of: leaf, pollen, embryo, root, root tip, meristem, ovule,anther, silk, flower, kernel, ear, cob, husk and stalk.
 5. A corn plantregenerated from the tissue culture of claim 3, wherein the regeneratedplant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofa corn plant of the inbred line designated G1202, wherein representativeseed of said inbred line have been deposited in the ATCC under accessionnumber X.
 6. A method of introducing a desired trait into corn inbredline G1202 comprising: (a) crossing G1202 plants grown from seeddeposited under ATCC Accession No. 5972, with plants of another cornline that comprise a desired trait to produce FI progeny plants, whereinthe desired trait is selected from, male sterility, herbicideresistance, insect resistance, and resistance to disease; (b) selectingFI progeny plants that have the desired trait to produce selected FIprogeny plants; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with inbredG1202 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting forbackcross progeny plants that have the desired trait and physiologicaland morphological characteristics of corn inbred plant G1202 to produceselected backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d)three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higherbackcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of corn inbred lineG1202 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level whengrown in the same environmental conditions.
 7. Pollen of the corn plantof claim
 2. 8. A corn plant produced by the method of claim 6, whereinthe plant has the desired trait and all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of corn inbred line G1202 listed in Table1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.
 9. A method for producing an F1 hybrid cornseed, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2, with a different cornplant and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid corn seed.
 10. A method forproducing an herbicide resistant corn plant comprising transforming thecorn plant of claim 2, with a transgene that confers herbicideresistance.
 11. An herbicide resistant corn plant produced by the methodof claim
 10. 12. The corn plant of claim 11, wherein the transgeneconfers resistance to an herbicide selected from the group consistingof: imidazolinone, glyphosate, glufosinate, and phosphinothricin.
 13. Amethod of producing an insect resistant corn plant comprisingtransforming the corn plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confersinsect resistance.
 14. An insect resistant corn plant produced by themethod of claim
 13. 15. The corn plant of claim 14, wherein thetransgene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 16. A method ofproducing a disease resistant corn plant comprising transforming thecorn plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers disease resistance.17. A disease resistant corn plant produced by the method of claim 16.18. Seed produced by selfing the plant according to claim 2, whereinsaid seed produce plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a corn plant of the inbred line G1202, seed of saidinbred line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No: 5972.